ezra jack keats...2016 is the 30th year of the ezra jack keats bookmaking competition in the new...
TRANSCRIPT
30th Annual Book Awards CatalogueKEATSEzra Jack
KEATS30th
AnnualBook
AwardsCatalogue
Ezra JackEZRA JACK KEATS AWARDS EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library10 Grand Army Plaza Brooklyn, New York 11238718. 230.1001May 4 - May 27, 2016
The New York City Department of Education gratefully acknowledges
and thanks the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation and its Executive Director,
Dr. Deborah Pope, for their generous sponsorship and support.
This catalogue was produced by the New York City Department of Education in collaboration with the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation.
Front cover image: Jevina Wong, A Banana for Nana, IS 239K, Mark Twain School for the Gifted and Talented
Back cover image: Yordi Rodriquez, Journey Through Nature, New Explorers High School, Bronx
Editor: Kenneth Grebinar
Catalogue design by Will Lovell, Vanguard Direct
Artwork photographed by Michael Ian
No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise without written permission from the publishers.
Copyright 2016 New York City Department of Education
All rights reserved
Published 2016
Printed in the United States of America
For information contact the Office of Arts and Special Projects, NYCDOE
www.nyc.gov/schools/artseducation
4 5
LETTER FROM CARMEN FARIÑA ....................................................................................................6
LETTER FROM DEBORAH POPE .....................................................................................................7
CITY-WIDE WINNER IN GRADES 3-5
Roberto Quesada, Some Skyscrapers Are... .............................................................................8
CITY-WIDE WINNER IN GRADES 6-8
Sarah Cheung, A-Z Inventions Through History ....................................................................10
CITY-WIDE WINNER IN GRADES 9-12
Crystal Ng, My Life as a Dandelion .........................................................................................12
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS
Amiri Francis, George the Robot Boy ........................................................................................14Amarion Kent, Intergalactic Cats Save the Day .....................................................................16Ava Johnson, Journey, A Story of a Salmon Named Amy ....................................................18Kelly Chin, My Journey Through Music .................................................................................20Daria Minhas, Zoe Ng, Star Spangled Julie .............................................................................22
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS
Jevina Wong, A Banana for Nana ............................................................................................24Emma Crowley, Hero ..................................................................................................................26Jamie Morales, If Animals Could Talk, I Wonder... ................................................................28Aayusha Duwadi, Insert Something Profound ........................................................................30Matheus Duplessy, Willie Dong, The Sounds of Winter in New York City ...........................32
HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS
Joshua Ayala, A Race with The Gods ........................................................................................34Nicholas Douglas, Mathew Lawrence, Adventure in Japan ...................................................36Yordi Rodriquez, Journey Through Nature ............................................................................38Kawen Kuang, Make Dreams Come True ...............................................................................40Michael Jean, The Lonely Can ..................................................................................................42Erlina Cahyadi, Juliana Feng, The Thing Forgotten ...............................................................44
HONORABLE MENTIONS .............................................................................................................46
SCHOOL-WIDE WINNERS .............................................................................................................47
EZRA JACK KEATS SELECTION PANEL 2014 ................................................................................50
PROJECT TEAMS ...........................................................................................................................50
Elementary, middle and high schools throughout the
city enter this annual competition. Classes of students
create books at their schools. A team at the school
determines which book is the school wide winner.
Thus, when the panel of judges convenes to select
the city- and borough-wide winners, they are making
their selections from books that already have been
recognized as winners at the school level. All authors
and illustrators as city, borough and school wide
winners receive Ezra Jack Keats medals. This is
particularly significant because it was the receipt of
an art award when he was in junior high school in
Brooklyn that encouraged the young Ezra to pursue
a career in the arts.
Because all books entered into the competition are
winners, all are exhibited from May 4th to May 27th at
Brooklyn Public Library, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn.
Table of ContentsThe Annual Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition
6 7
Dear Friends,
Students’ inclusion in this catalogue celebrates a great achievement. Writing and illustrating a book, and telling a story that transforms the reader, is a tremendous challenge. And all of the students who made a book have succeeded. Bravo to all of them.
And another, very special “Bravo!” to the teachers, administrators, and of course the families, who have supported these young authors and illustrators as they forged their way through the bookmaking process. Thank you for your determination to have these young men and women do their very best work.
2016 is the 30th year of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition in the New York City public school system. The students who were winners of the first competition, in 1986, are now in their 30s and 40s. In fact, we often get emails from adults who remember receiving their awards 10 or 20 years ago. We are proud of our long relationship with the Department of Education and the students of New York City. Today their books have become a part of this history. Each book is tangible proof of the enjoyment and satisfaction students receive when what is learned in school is applied to the creative process of bookmaking.
This year also marks the 100th birthday of Ezra Jack Keats, the fourth year of the EJK Bookmaking Competition in San Francisco and the very first year of the Baltimore EJK Bookmaking Competition. Ezra would have felt honored to have these milestones included in his centennial celebration.
Thank you to the people in the Office of Arts and Special Projects with whom we work. Karen Rosner and Paul King have been our unflagging champions and leaders for almost a decade. It is through their efforts and vision that we are here today. In addition, I thank Linda E. Johnson, President of Brooklyn Public Library, and Rachel Payne, Barbara Wing and Paquita Campoverde, also of BPL. All of these dedicated professionals have made this program a success.
Sincerely,
Letter From Carmen Fariña
May 2016
Dear Student Authors and Illustrators, Their Families, Teachers, and Librarians,
Congratulations to all city and borough wide winners whose exemplary work appears in this catalogue celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition.
For three decades the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation has most generously supported student engagement in book making, and has helped to foster a love for the art of the picture book. I applaud the Foundation’s interest in our young authors and illustrators, and for providing funding for professional learning experiences, classroom resources related to picture book making, medals and awards, and the creation of the annual catalogue.
The Ezra Jack Keats Bookmaking Competition is more than a competition. For elementary and secondary students in traditional and alternative school settings, and in special education environments, it is the culmination of months of study that involved picture book and author studies, exploration of layouts and text/image relationships, creation of thought-provoking and well-developed stories, and instruction in picture book design. Student creativity as well as perseverance are in evidence in each book represented in the catalogue you are now holding.
Thank you to the teachers and librarians who support the work of these young authors and illustrators. Appreciation also is extended to the families who guide and nurture our students.
On behalf of The New York City Department of Education, I wish to acknowledge each student’s accomplishments.
With best wishes,
Carmen Fariña, Chancellor The New York City Department of Education
Letter From Deborah Pope
8 9
Roberto QuesadaSome Skyscrapers Are...Grade: 5
Teacher/ Maria Panotopoulou Librarian: Kathleen Cavanagh-Fleischmann
School: PS 63Q, Ozone Park
Principal: Diane Marino
I have always had a fascination with skyscrapers – they are complex
and show what humans can create. I want to become an architect
when I grow up. When my art teacher told us about this contest,
I instantly knew the best topic to write about: skyscrapers. I was
inspired by different cities, especially New York. One World Trade
Center looks so interesting on the skyline, and 40 Wall Street has
an interesting façade. My visit to 30 Rockefeller Center and the
Hudson Yards also inspired me. Philadelphia’s Liberty Place and
Atlanta’s Westin Hotel look like geometrical masterpieces! Through
research, I learned about the Austonian and the Chase Bank Tower in
Indianapolis. Making this book was
a complex process. It involved a
lot of writing, creating collage,
drawing and coloring. Our
librarian helped me review some
of the wording and my word
placement. My art teacher
showed me how to bind the
book using yarn and a plastic
needle. Once I finished the
binding, I was very happy
about the way my book
looked. Creating my book
was challenging, but worth
all the effort and time.
CITY-WIDE WINNER IN GRADES 3-5
10 11
Sarah CheungA-Z Inventions Through HistoryGrade: 8
Teacher: Victoria Iocco
School: IS 141Q, Steinway Intermediate School
Principal: Miranda Pavlou
The idea for my children’s book
began when I became interested
in various inventions that date back
in history. Each invention has its
own useful purpose. I decided to
research these objects to learn about
their development and to inform others of how an assortment of
contraptions came to exist. Because I wanted my book to be more
than two-dimensional illustrations of objects, I decided to create
pop-ups. The process of bookmaking was exciting because I was
able to see how my artwork and writing could work together.
I constructed the book using a variety of materials including Bristol
paper, watercolor-tipped markers, and glue. I created twenty-six
pages, one for each letter of the alphabet. When making the pop-ups
I added unconventional materials that would be most appealing to the
reader, including pieces
of string and paper
fasteners. I wanted the
images in my book to
appear vivid and alive.
I hope my book is
entertaining as well as
a learning experience
for young readers.
CITY-WIDE WINNER IN GRADES 6-8
Crystal NgMy Life as a Dandelion Grade: 10
Teacher: Monica Rowley
School: Brooklyn Technical High School
Principal: Randy Asher
The concept of My Life as a Dandelion revolves around the idea
of freedom and letting go. I was inspired to write a story about
a dandelion as I was looking through the Internet for examples of
children’s books and I came across Dandylion by Lizzie Finlay. I
had no idea of what I wanted to do and joked about whether or not I
should write a story about a dandelion. At first, I thought the idea was
ridiculous since I didn’t know how to make a story about a dandelion
interesting. As I pondered over the idea of a dandelion story, the image
of blowing a dandelion came to mind. This can be seen as a symbol for
freedom, which I then decided would be the theme of my story. Before
creating the book, I wrote storyboards so that I could visualize how
my book would look. I created the book by using cut up pieces of copy
paper and construction paper. I taped them in a way that opens in the
same way as an accordion. I used the leftover paper to create pop-ups
and flaps. For the drawings, I used pen, markers, and colored pencils.
CITY-WIDE WINNER IN GRADES 9-12
12 13
Amiri FrancisGeorge the Robot BoyGrade: 4
Teachers: Veronica Doherty
Sharon Eisenson
School: PS16X, Wakefield School
Principal: Yvonne Williams
F ive Nights at Freddie’s is a story
about animatronics in which robots
break each other apart. This movie became
the inspiration for my book. I wanted to create
my own version of this movie. I created a robot
character named George. I like robots because I
really like technology. My story is about what life
could be like in the future. It would be easier for
children to learn if they have help from robots. I
used a graphic organizer to help me develop my
story. I read it to my teachers and my friends
and they loved it! I wrote the story first. Then I drew the background
characters. I added a little of my favorite
color which is green. I went over the lines to
make them dark. For the background I used
green and yellow. I created seven Georges...
and I worked very hard. I wanted my
book to be a pop-up book so my teacher
showed me how to make an accordion
fold to make the characters pop up! To
create an exciting cover I used green
paper and a set of fancy scissors. I
sewed the book to hold it together. It
was a lot of work, yet fun to make this
book. I would want to do it again!
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WINNERS
14 15
Mr. Whiskers explains to Bee that his planet is in need of help. “All of our food supply has been stolen,” he said. “Would you like to help me save my planet?” said Mr. Whiskers.
Amarion KentIntergalactic Cats Save the Day Grade: 5
Teacher: Denise Rossitto
School: PS137M, John L. Bernstein
Principal: Sarah Pinto
The inspiration for my
book came from my
friend who, just like one of
the main characters in my
book, often gets picked on in
her school. I feel bad that she
only has one friend at school
and I hope that this book will
give her the confidence she
needs to have an easier time
at school. It made me feel so
good when I saw the smile on
my friend’s face after I told
her I was making this book.
Even though making this
book was hard work, I am so
glad that I made it. My book
looks like a comic book because of all the action in my story. It has
a lot of speech bubbles and all of the images are in a box form. For
my images, I decided to use watercolor and black Sharpie markers to
outline the images. I wrapped the cardboard cover with watercolor
paper and sewed the pages together and glued them onto the cover.
I typed the text on my computer, cut the words out and glued them
onto my painted pages. I enjoyed making this book and I am proud of
it. I hope everyone enjoys reading my book. Creating Intergalactic
Cats Save the Day is one of my best accomplishments.
16 17
Ava JohnsonJourney, A Story of a Salmon Named AmyGrade: 4
Teacher: Amy Kuchynsky
School: PS 98Q, The Douglaston School
Principal: Lena Kim
The inspiration for my book came from my Dad’s stories of
spending his summers salmon fishing in order to pay for his
college tuition. I love hearing dramatic stories of the salmon with
their instinct and will to survive and their battles with fishermen such
as my father. My family visited Vancouver Island’s Gold Stream Park
in Canada when I was 5 years old and we saw thousands of salmon
leaping upstream which was so thrilling that I gasped so hard I had
trouble breathing. The word salmon comes from the Latin “salmo”
which translates to “leap.” The salmon’s genetic instincts take some
of them across the Pacific Ocean from North America to Japan and
then back to their birthplace to spawn. The fact that some salmon
have to swim thousands of miles to lay their eggs in the exact spot
where they were born is amazing to me. I love learning about the world
that exists underwater which is so different from our world. The idea
that all different kinds of marine life exist in our rivers and oceans is
wondrous and makes me love our planet. Creating my book was like
figuring out a puzzle. I had to create many individual parts and then
put them together. At the beginning I had to think about the setting,
my characters, the story line. The most fun of all was using watercolor
and collage for my illustrations. Salmon became my subject and the
protagonist of my story of survival. This book began as a blank slate
and all my choices led to my book about beautiful salmon.
A salmon’s journey will be traveled by Amy’s babies. The life cycle continues... OVER and OVER.
18 19
Kelly ChinMy Journey Through MusicGrade: 5
Teacher: Kristen Meehan
School: PS 264K
Principal: Patrice Edison
I love music and art and I was inspired
to create this book by both my music
and art teachers. My character is named
after my cousin because she loves music.
The setting for my story takes place on
a hill. When I was younger, my brother
and I used to slide down the hill at the
park and watch the clouds move. I had
to consider what medium I would use
for my illustrations. I chose collage
because you can choose from many patterns and mix many colors in
one picture. I realized that I needed many supplies for this project
so I told my mom and she took me to her craft room and I picked out
lots of supplies. I used little sticks, googly eyes, different types of
paper, cardstock, paper punches, buttons, flower cut-outs, markers
and a ruler. After writing my story I created my storyboards. I created
all the characters and finished the details with markers. Finally, I
created a front cover and typed the words for the book. I am very
proud of my book. When it was announced in my music class that my
book was chosen to represent my school I was truly excited.
20 21
22 23
Daria Minhas Zoe NgStar Spangled Julie Grade: 5
Teacher Tanis Coniglione Librarian: Ann Keegan John Carrai
School: PS/IS 229K, The Dyker School
Principal: Robert Zappulla
Daria: One day I decided to wear a shirt to school that was sparkling
red, white, and blue. It made me think about what life would be like
as a President’s first daughter. That became the theme of my book.
I picked Zoe as my artist and we became partners. We researched
the White House, wrote to Malia and Sasha Obama, and went online
for photos. In response we received a beautiful letter and pictures
from Michelle Obama. Zoe and I never knew how interesting life in
the White House could be. I just thought that the White House was
a place where the President and his family live. We never thought it
would have a bowling alley, swimming pool, and its very own chocolate
shop. We learned many new things about the Inauguration and the
Kids’ “State Dinner.” This book was a great experience and I’m glad
I shared it with Zoe.
Zoe: I was glad to have the opportunity to illustrate a children’s book.
My partner Daria and I worked on the book together. We learned
a lot. Drawing the Capitol Building was complex because we had
to measure angles and lengths to show the crowd and format of
the building. I used ribbons and colored paper to make the figures.
Daria and I had fun creating and picking out paper designs for the
character’s clothes. It took a long time to make the book, but it was
worth all the effort. What a wonderful experience!
Now I would have to move from New York all the way to the White House in Washington D.C.
24 25
Jevina WongA Banana for Nana Grade: 8
Teacher: Michele Wallach
School: IS 239K, Mark Twain School for the Gifted and Talented
Principal: Karen Ditolla
The idea for my book came from observing my younger cousins.
A common trait children seem to possess is persistence, whether
nagging for a snack or fighting at bedtime. I wondered if that
determination could be used to do good things. With this concept I
developed a character that had perseverance and resourcefulness.
She doesn’t give up and would do anything for her grandmother just
like I would for mine. The process of creating this book proved to
take a lot of hard work. I had to plan my illustrations as I was writing
the story. I chose bright colors that would attract the reader. I also
drew, cut, and pasted costumes for my heroine and used textured
material for her clothes to really make her “pop.” The most fun I had
was with my illustrations, incorporating many details that really made
the book come together. Trying to
recreate my vision onto the pages
was quite stressful and took a
lot of time. However, I am very
pleased with the finished product.
MIDDLE SCHOOL WINNERS
Can you go to the farmers’ market to buy her a fruit? It would help her get better.”
26 27
Emma CrowleyHeroGrade: 8
Teacher: Shelly Cunningham
School: IS 51K, William Alexander Middle School
Principal: Lenore Berner
I decided to write this book because I know firsthand the sacrifices
that military families make when a loved one is doing a tour
overseas. When I was five years old my nineteen year-old brother
Kevin, a United States Marine, was deployed to Iraq. I remember,
even at such a young age, missing him and longing for his safe
return. I remember praying every night and asking God to watch
over him. Mostly I remember the sheer joy and excitement when
Kevin returned home ten months later. He was home safe. I knew
many families that were not as fortunate as mine. For my book, I
hand drew and colored each picture, leaving my main character in
only black and white to show that something was
missing when her dad is gone. I bound the
book by myself. These experiences and feelings
were the inspiration for my book Hero. I know
there are thousands of proud American
families across our country
with their very own heroes.
I know there are thousands of proud American families across our country with their very own heroes.
Jamie MoralesIf Animals Could Talk, I Wonder... Grade: 6
Teachers: Roberta Klapper
Andrea Marte
School: P723X@189
Principal: Shante Chunn
My art teacher asked us to think about the animals we like. Then
she asked what we think they would say if they could talk. I
thought that was funny. First we made a list of the animals that we like
and picked eight animals from the list. It was hard to choose the animals.
We learned facts about all of the animals. Then we thought of questions
we could ask the animals. We picked our favorite question. I wrote each
animal a question to ask them if they could talk. It took a long time to
learn about the animals. My favorite animal is the elephant because it
is a big animal. We looked at pictures of the animals so that we could
draw them. I used a marker to trace the outlines of the animals. Then we
painted the animals using watercolor. I liked using a lot of colors to paint
my pictures. I love to draw and enjoyed making a book.
I read that some monkeys live on the ground and some live in trees. I wonder, how can you sleep in a tree without falling off?
28 29
30 31
Aayusha DuwadiInsert Something Profound Grade: 8
Teacher: Lucinda Kalin
School: IS 291Q, Hunter’s Point Community Middle School
Principal: Sarah Goodman
Insert Something Profound is a story that deals with the masks
that people wear. Teenagers in New York City are exposed to so
many ideas and perceptions about the world we live in that some of
us become confused. We all strive to stand out and yet fit in at the
same time. This concept is something that is referenced in Erikson’s
stages of psychosocial development. Confusion about identity is
faced by every teenager and has an impact on the lives that we live.
I’ve found that everyone I know has insecurities and wears some sort
of mask to hide them yet they still feel the need to fit in. I used this
concept as the inspiration for my character “Happyface.” She hid
behind a happy smile but was never really happy with herself. The
concept that I wanted to show everyone is that it is all right to be
confused as to who you are. I found it reassuring that no one is ever
truly alone in having an identity crisis.
I found it reassuring that no one is ever truly alone in having an identity crisis.
32 33
Matheus Duplessy Willie DongThe Sounds of Winter in New York CityGrade: 6
Teachers: Amie Robinson
Chad Grossman
School: PS 77K (Dist. 75)
Principal: Ebony Russell
Matheus: For this book I imagined that I was moving from Rio de
Janeiro to New York City in the winter. I like listening to the many
sounds around me. Some people think winter is cold and no fun, but
I think winter is alive with many sounds. Sometimes we started with a
sound as inspiration, and other times we started with a place. For
example, we started with the sound of fireworks. Then we added
details about where we see fireworks in New York City, and what they
look like. We used our personal experiences to add details to the
story and make it come alive. Illustrating our book was easy because
Willie is such a good illustrator. My teacher helped me with writing
the words, picking a font, and typing it in Microsoft Word. Now I
know how much hard work it takes to make a book.
Willie: I enjoyed illustrating this book about winter. Matheus and
I talked about the images that each sentence inspired and then I
started drawing. I love to draw, but painting was new for me. I used
watercolors to paint things that I see in the winter such as snow,
birds, and hot chocolate. My favorite page has a painting of red birds,
and that is why I chose the red bird for the cover of the book. I loved
illustrating the sound words like “pop” and “crunch.” I am very good
at drawing letters in 3D. It was amazing to see our book when it was
finished. I want to collaborate with Matheus again next year on a
story about communication.
The sound of the drum during Chinese New Year. BOOM, BANG, BAM!
34 35
Joshua AyalaA Race with The Gods Grade: 12
Teacher/ Jennifer Renée Caden Merdjan Librarian: Valeri Thomson
School: Bard High School Early College Queens
Principal: Valeri Thomson
To create this book I researched Greek mythology and picture book
designs and layouts, both in school and at the library. This
consisted of looking at over a dozen award-winning children’s books
including some by Ezra Jack Keats. In addition to the research,
I went on a class trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. At the
museum, I visited the Greek and Roman Galleries and created
a series of sketches of Greek vases and other pottery. I gained
inspiration from the story of Herakles and his immense strength.
While on a tour in the museum we came across pottery whose
subject was the goddess Nike and it was then that I realized what the
theme of my story should be. To create my book I made storyboards
and preliminary sketches of what I envisioned in my mind. These
sketches were rather basic because I wanted to create much more
detailed work in my final piece. During my book making process, I
I experimented with watercolors, paint pens,
metallic markers, and different papers. Upon
turning the cover of my book, the reader is
immediately immersed in the story. Sprinting,
the main theme and focus of the book is really
fast-paced, and is a progressive activity. I
wanted to emulate this in my story.
HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS
The onlookers couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw Makani make that comeback.
36 37
Nicholas Douglas Mathew LawrenceAdventure in JapanGrade: 12
Teachers: Amie Robinson
Devon O’Shanecy
School: PS 77K (Dist. 75)
Principal: Ebony Russell
Nicholas: Our book is called Adventure in Japan because in the
future we want to have our own adventure in Japan. My favorite part
of creating the book was doing research at the library. We looked at
books about Japan and I watched a movie called Fast and Furious:
Tokyo Drift. Mathew and I both like to draw Japanese cars so all
the pictures that we found of Japanese autos inspired us. I found
it difficult to draw some of our pictures, so I was happy to have
Matthew help me. Our art teacher gave us some good advice about
things to draw. I worked really hard and I think the book is beautiful
and I am happy with the final product.
Mathew: To create our book I researched Japanese cars, sports, and
food online. My favorite thing was learning about different foods and
wondering how the food would taste. The most interesting food that
I learned about was sushi, which I hope to try one day. It was fun to
plan a future trip with my friend to Japan. I love to draw and I used
markers because they have bright, vibrant colors. We used graphic
organizers to help us plan the story. After writing and illustrating the
book I typed the story and helped to lay out the pages. Making this
book was challenging but it was easier because I worked with Nicholas,
who knows a lot about Japan. I am excited that our book will be at the
library so that other students can read and learn about Japan too!
Next we are going to listen to traditional Japanese music like Sakura Koto. I think it will sound beautiful.
I came to understand the relationship between nature and humans. In Japanese art humans are shown smaller in relation to the landscape and the sea.
38 39
Yordi RodriquezJourney Through Nature Grade: 12
Teacher: Liza Wax
School: New Explorers High School, Bronx
Principal: Lisa Luft
I realized the concept for Journey Through Nature when I was
learning about Japanese art in my art class. We learned about
Japanese Haiku poetry. This is a form of writing about nature that
uses a format that was new to me. While studying works of Japanese
artists such as Hokusai, it occurred to me to focus on the seasons and
nature when creating my book. So began my inspirational journey
into nature using the four seasons as my platform. We learned how
artists of the Edo period were intrigued by weather conditions
and landscapes. I used warm and cool watercolor washes for the
backgrounds. After sketching my rough ideas, I used rubber stamps,
acrylic paint, and applied Japanese symbols… Kanji. The writing was
done using Japanese Sumi ink. All the pages depict some aspect of
a season. I came to understand the relationship between nature and
humans. In Japanese art, humans are shown smaller in relation to the
landscape and the sea. I bound the book using a bamboo sushi roll
and some fabric. After hand sewing the book I made a clay medallion
to give it a final crafty touch using a silk
ribbon. My book represents calmness,
tranquility, love, and respect… and
I am so proud of the outcome.
Suddenly, looking up into the sky A camera dangling on a branch With a little note, “Make Dreams Come True.”
Kawen KuangMake Dreams Come True Grade: 10
Teacher: Adrienne Mikulka
School: New Utrecht High School, Brooklyn
Principal: Maureen Goldfarb
As an ESL student, it is difficult
for me to write in words what
I want to express. However everything
went smoother and smoother as the
story progressed. I created different
pictures that corresponded to the plot.
Some images are colorful while some
images are dark— which reflects my own spiritual/emotional world.
Make Dreams Come True is based on my own experience of being
separated from my parents. This book gave me a great way to
express my feelings. I worked on this book every day for a few hours
from mid-October until the end of February and it was challenging.
If not for the supportive words of my family, friends and my art
teacher I wouldn’t have had the courage to finish this book. I want to
thank everyone for their help with writing in the English language.
I am proud to have created Make Dreams Come True. This whole
experience has been like a dream.
40 41
Michael JeanThe Lonely Can Grade: 10
Teacher: Maryann McCabe
School: Cultural Academy for the Arts and Sciences, Brooklyn
Principal: Diane Varano
My idea of making a book about
a rusted can did not just come
out of thin air. It took a lot of thought
for me to come up with this idea.
When my teacher told us we were
going to use narration in creating a book, I did not know what to do.
I started off by reading books that have unusual narrators. At first I
was going to create a book about an animal but I changed my idea.
One day my teacher suggested that I use an inanimate object as my
narrator. I choose a character that would be real but surprising. I
finally settled on using a can to narrate my book. Writing, illustrating,
and editing my book was not an easy process. Due to the
demands of my classwork I had to work really hard to manage
my time. Between researching
the recycling process and
correcting my grammar and
spelling errors, it took me over
two months to complete the book.
Now that my book is done I feel very
proud of myself. My accomplishments
in creating books for this contest for
the last two years have inspired me
to become an author/illustrator
in the future.
42 43
44 45
Erlina Cahyadi Juliana FengThe Thing ForgottenGrade: 12
Teacher: Adam Gordon
School: Maspeth High School, Queens
Principal: Khurshid Abdul-Mutakabbir
Erlina: Juliana and I created our book based on a superstition that she
heard of long ago. When someone says a person’s full name, they will
get taken away or killed by the spirits that are around. We switched
our story to make it apply to modern times while still connecting it to
the Confucian rules about respecting our elders. Using this basic idea
we started writing using a poetry format. We sketched the scenes in
a storyboard/comic form then we applied watercolor and marker over
the important parts of each scene. Finally, we added the words to the
pages and bound our book.
Juliana: When creating our book, Erlina and I first though about the theme
and plot of our story. After much thought, we realized that the way
children treat parents today is completely different from the way parents
were treated in Ancient China. The beginning of the book references the
Confucian idea that a child must obey the parent. As we developed the
story we tried to modernize the concept to relate to today’s society where
these ideas are not always held. The appearance of the Grim Reaper was an
attempt to tie Confucian ideas to the notion that most people fear death.
46 47
School-Wide WinnersHonorable MentionsTitle Author/Illustrator School Teacher/Librarian Principal
Grades 3-5
A-Z about Antarctica
Jason Jiang William C. Wilcox, PS/IS 48R
Christine Gross Jaqueline Mammolito
Bella The Magic Dog Yingyu LeiSanella Beharovic
PS 255K, Barbara Reing
Rachel KarlinMiriam Rankin
Kelly McCann
Friend Luke Macwan PS 29R, Bardwell School
Rose Mary CastroNina Hansen
Linda Manfredi
Wonder Island Jayla Lafortune PS 38Q, The Rosedale School
Theodora Zavala Julia Soussis
Grades 6-8
A Mid-Autumn Moon
Matilda Sieger MS/HS141X, Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy
Julia Loving Lori O’Mara
Bella’s One Day Vacation
Dominique CichockiIsiac Ayala
P53K@562 Judith Tantleff-NapoliAmy Williams
Heather Leykam
Grades 9-12
How To Fly a Rocket Ship
Doris Morales Queens Metropolitan High School
Debra Firestone Greg Dutton
Slow Down for Poesy
Ruby Lowery Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Manhattan
Maggie Chang Lisa Mars
Title Author/Illustrator School Teacher/Librarian Principal
Grades 3-5
A Dream Come True Selina Li PS 205K, Clarion Tanya VaziraniMary Ellen Ambrosio
Beth Grater
A Message Overseas Kano Kitaguchi PS 174Q William Sidney Mount
Marilyn FriedmanMarie Russell
Karin Kelly
A Terrible Start Lynn TangGabriella Palma
PS 120Q Serena ForzagliaDana McMahon
Robert Marino
A Voice In My Head Erica IndmanAnastasia Ditmarova
PS 195K, The Manhattan Beach School
Cara Bianchi Bernadette Toomey
Amelia’s Magical Shoes
Olivia DonatoMia Sherman
PS 50R, Frank Hankinson
Stephanie D’Alcamo Joseph Santello
Around the World ChinemeremEmenoguElisabeth Tonrey
PS 23R, The Richmondtown School
Laura Christie Paul Proscia
As One With My World
RoseHochkeppel
PS 15K, The Patrick F. Daly Magnet School of the Arts
Clare McCarthy Peggy Wyns-Madison
Caught Khadein Washington PS 233K, The Langston Hughes School
Merla Monize Denean Stephens-Spellman
Dancing Feet Melissa Dubrow PS 179K, The Kensington School
Sue Stengren Bernadette Amato
Fear of Coyote Ashley Liang PS 105K, Blythebourne School
Ellen PostLee Anne Infantino
Johanna Castronovo
If I Were a Sun Erica LindoJesus Remigio
PS 151K Urszula Kubrak Jayne Hunt
Inside the Painting Venetia Erogenous Alexandra Avdoulos
PS 193Q, Alfred J Kennedy
Denise Markbreit Diane Tratner
Jack’s Life Alexford Codrington,Jr.
PS 189X The Cornerstone Academy for Social Action
Elisa Grotto LudwigLeslie Fiske
James Bellon
Keep Calm and Walk On
OryaShusterman-Bachi
PS 527M, The East Side School for Social Action
Jessica Clark Daniel McCormick
Learn to be Kind Perla Martinez PS 532K, New Bridges Elementary
Kelly Watson Kevyn Bowles
Lorenzo’s Life Lorenzo Richichi PS 75Q Robert Peary Jamiee Kaplan James Thorbs
New York Stacey Kourbanov
PS 153K Frances TangariKaitlyn McCormack
Carl Santa Maria
Rockin’ Ballerinas Alanis Santana P 226M Melissa Formisano Rachelle Klainberg
Special Penguins Luke BlummLuisanya Gonzalez
PS 314M Lisa Brunner Camille Wallin
48 49
Title Author/Illustrator School Teacher/Librarian Principal
Standing Up Joshua Ramon PS 41R, The Stephanie A. Vierno School
Susan Alvarez Jennifer Logan
Tap Champ Alejandra Guadarrama
PS 182Q, Samantha Smith School
Sarah RubinDebbie Flaum
Andrew Topol
The Berry Theft Christopher D’Amico PS 139Q, The Rego Park School
Charissa Contrino Natalie Perez-Hernandez
The Great Day Derek Miro PS 6R, The Corporal Allan F. Kivlehan School
Andrea ConroyDana Pazzas
Elizabeth Waters
The Little Heart Hilary Nuñez PS 48M, Police Officer Michael J. Buczek School
Felix PortelaSydney Plummer
Tracy Walsh
The Song of a Bird Olivia Woo PS/MS 282K, Park Slope School
Karen KettyleLisa Masdeu
Rashan Hoke
The Tale of the Princess and the Cat
Amy Rukaj PS70Q, Lt. Joseph Petrosino School
Carmela MrozMary KaralekasMaryann Zupo
Donna Geller
The Vietnamese Orphans and Their New Mother
Annie ReetsJoyce Delacruz
PS 399K, Stanley Eugene Clarke
Nell July Sealey Marion Brown
The White Blanket William Liu PS 250K, George H. Lindsay School
Catherine DePasquale
Rose Ann LaCioppa
Try Your Best!! Jahmire Williams P3 68K, Star Academy
Catherine Brewer Joycelyn Nedd
Who Wears Hearing Aids?
Bashudeb Halder PS 47X, The John Randolph School
Ronda RufsvoldDebra Yasinsky
Thomas Guarnieri
Grades 6-8
A Little (Too Confident) Robin
Diana Yang JHS 194Q, William H. Carr
Lauren Sabatini-Cabrera
Jennifer Miller
A Real Page Turner Kayla Cousin IS 252Q, Queens School of Inquiry
Yeon Ji ParkLinda BlancheVicki Yang
Meredith Inbal
An Overnight Journey
Liana Zofrin IS 98K, The Bay Academy for the Arts and Sciences
Mandi BranchoMarietta Falconieri
Maria Timo
Bonnie’s Adventure Gianna Pittari Paulo Intermediate School 75R
Harriet Goldman Kenneth Zapata
Composition of Life Problems
Leslie UrgliesJasmine Chabla
IS 145Q, Joseph Pulitzer Intermediate School
Ivan AsinSamatha Chung
Dolores Beckham
Grandma Esther Jorge Paz IS 77Q Ruth VargheseDolores Vialet
Joseph A. Miller
Hamilton Glaze, Pig Detective
Rose E. Alliacin IS 381K Patricia J. MurphyDawn Foster-Jones
Mary Harrington
Prom Over Pills Kate HagenMadeline Salinardi
IS 7R, Elias Berstein Mary Beth Quick Dr. Nora De Rosa
Title Author/Illustrator School Teacher/Librarian Principal
The Artist Brandon Rios 277Q, The Riverview School
Lucinda Kalin Susan McNulty
The Life of a Crayon
Isabella Segalia IS 2001K, Dyker Heights
Tonia Franzese Robert Ciulla
The Special Boy Latchmi SinghLisa Ramkissoon
MS 137Q, America’s School of Heroes
Melissa Potwardski LauraMastrogiovanni
Walking in Our Shoes
Barry McClamNasiem Irving
ALC@ MS53, Queens Diana O’NeillSonia Zizilas
Mery Leon Garcia
Grades 9-12
Broken Vianed Cholula William Cullen Bryant High School, Queens
Alexandra J. Mercado
Maria Troianos
Grandma’s Star Pie Diamond HargroveReshme Appu
Academy for Scholarship and Entrepreneurship, Bronx
Susan Alicea Zenobia White–DaCruz
Shadows Alexandra Dadona Tottenville High School, Staten Island
Wynter Carnevale Joseph Scarmato
The Little Chicken Wants to Fly
Gulsun Murtazaeva
International High School at Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Cynthia Chatman Nedda DeCastro
The Mandala Boy Yohany MonteroNabiha Shehadeh
New World High School, Bronx
Susan Alicea Fausto Salazar
Zenoth and the Romax Authority
Tyrese Reid-Wint Fredrick Douglass Academy—A College Preparatory School, Manhattan
Jason Estrin Joseph Gates
School-Wide Winners 2013 continuedSchool-Wide Winners 2013 continued
50 51
Ezra Jack Keats Selection Panel
Elizabeth Naylor-GutierrezCoordinator, Office of Library Services, NYC Department of Education
Barbara Orenstein Former Children’s Specialist, Central LibraryBrooklyn Public Library
Rachel Payne,Coordinator, Early Childhood Services, Brooklyn Public Library
Jo Beth Ravitz Artist/Art Consultant
Susan Straub Founder, The Read to Me Program
Project Teams
NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Carmen Fariña, Chancellor
OFFICE OF ARTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Paul King, Executive DirectorKaren Rosner, Coordinator of Visual Arts
WORKING WITH THE OFFICE OF ARTS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Jennifer Macaluso, Bookmaking Project ManagerKen Grebinar, Catalogue Editor
OFFICE OF LIBRARY SERVICES
Richard Hasenyager, Executive Director of Library ServicesMelissa Jacobs, Coordinator of Library Services
BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY
Paquita Campoverde, Manager, Youth & Family ProgramsRachel Payne, Coordinator Early Childhood Services Danielle Bullock, Program Coordinator Barbara Wing, Manager, Exhibitions
New York City Department of Education, 52 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007
www.schools.nyc.gov/artseducation
TM
Department ofEducationJoel I. Klein, Chancellor
TM